Self-Compassion: An S-Tier Behavioral Designer’s Guide
Short answer: Self-compassion is treating yourself after a failure the way you would treat a good friend going…
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The Blog
Ideas on motivation, behavior & design.
Deep dives on the psychology behind why people do what they do — from Yu-kai Chou, creator of the Octalysis Framework. Pick the topic that matters to you.
The Zone of Proximal Development: An S-Tier Behavioral Designer’s Guide
Short answer: The Zone of Proximal Development is the gap between what a learner can do alone and…
The Bystander Effect: An S-Tier Behavioral Designer’s Guide
Thirty-eight neighbors allegedly watched Kitty Genovese die on a Queens sidewalk in March 1964, and for the next…
Transformational Leadership: An S-Tier Behavioral Designer’s Guide
Most of what people call "great leadership" in 2026 is a derivative of an idea James MacGregor Burns…
Groupthink: An S-Tier Behavioral Designer’s Guide
Irving Janis's Groupthink in plain English: 8 symptoms, 3 antecedent conditions, 7 decision defects, and how Octalysis maps…
Attachment Theory: An S-Tier Behavioral Designer’s Guide
Every behavioral designer I meet has a favorite motivation framework. Maslow. Self-Determination Theory. Octalysis, if they’re kind to…
Learned Helplessness: An S-Tier Behavioral Designer’s Guide
Most designers think their churn problem is a motivation problem. They load up on points, streaks, and badges,…